REYNA
A fist smashed into my face so fast, I didn't stand a chance at ducking. I grinned as that particular fist got burned. My glow was doing more than light up my skin. It was a beautiful flame coating my skin. This was exactly what I had been hoping for. My powers seemed to be getting an upgrade.
Drake cursed as I stepped away from a blast of his dark fog. Once, his fog touched me leaving me helpless on the arena. His ability was every Royal's nightmare. He could steal one's senses and abilities rendering a royal powerless and defenseless. He smirked as I threw up a light shield. "I remember how helpless you felt in my arms Princess..."
I gazed at Eric who seemed to be wholly focused on his opponent. Caleb could handle a fight against him but I suspected he was fully aware of my every move.
"You wish I could be your Princess, don't you? Only in your dreams thief..." His eyes blazed as his power rushed out of him. He came charging and opened his mouth close to my face. I saw the fog flinching as I braced for the numbing pain... then nothing.
I opened my eyes to see Eric using Drake's ability against him. He was writhing in pain as his fog rendered him helpless.
Eric's mind brushed against mine gently asking if I was unharmed. I had always felt the need to jump into his arms when he did that. This time though, I responded with an image of me strangling Drake as he pleaded telepathically...
"You still don't like him after all this time..."
"He is a bully and sadist."
"Has he hurt you off the arena?"
"Once..."
"Later, I want to know every detail Princess."
A whistle alerted me of my failure. As a team we had passed. As a lighter on the guard I had failed.
"Partners, assess each other!" Zane bellowed.
Without warning, Eric held the back of my head loosened my hair tie and let my red waves fall. He smiled in that heart squeezing way that made my tummy flip."Much better partner or mate?", he murmured.
The mate bond stirred to life as he brushed his mind against mine showing me all my mistakes. He used every opportunity to remind me that we were not just partners but Royalmates and he wanted me to accept the bond.
"You could just tell me where I messed up."
"And miss the opportunity to feel your mind?"
"Eric... I am not ready. I've been resolved to stay away from you since you left and talking about this now is wrong. Zane will suspend us."
"He wouldn't dare. Future King of Royal and all."
He smirked and I rolled my eyes. " You let Drake get too close Princess. He nearly paralyzed you." He played with my hair, touched my cheek and I was very certain everyone watching could guess something was different.
"I will do better tomorrow. Some of my abilities seem to be getting an upgrade."
Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. My knees gave out as wave after wave of hot undiluted desire washed over me. The arrogant prince had touched my royal mark. I remembered the heart family lessons on mates.
...A mate's touch is capable of eliciting the most powerful physical reactions depending on the intent. Sometimes the mate bond sees a need that is being unmet and uses physical touch to meet that need.
Be very careful about touching your mate in public. You could end up having a display best suited to closed doors. Elder Aurora had been more than correct especially since her own mate was reknown for his public displays of affection. She must have been a victim of exactly what was happening to me presently.
...
"Eric... I need to be teleported out of here now..."
My core melted as he lifted me into his arms. I moaned as his mind tried to sooth but only heightened the need. Royal amplified everything. Benefits of being a gifted land. Nothing was ordinary. Not even mating.
In a flash we were in his room. He had teleported me onto his bed genuinely baffled by what was occurring. His eyes turned distant like he was being telepathed. His gaze swept over my body turning possessively hot, "Do you have any idea how hard it is to have you here? In my room, still unable to claim you as mine? Reyna...your scent is driving me insane." Closing my eyes as I nervously bit my lip, I murmured what he probably already knew. I could feel my panty getting soaked by just looking at him.
"You touched my royal mark... the mate bond chose that moment to give me an orgasm. Did you do it on purpose? You've never touched my mark."
ERIC
The light rays were light brown, glowed golden at times and were not as visible as my lightning bolt streak covering a part of my shoulder, bicep and neck.
Her arousal was flaying my control to shreds. Her posture, splayed on my bed, red waves against the white beddings triggered my reaction. I grabbed her calf and drew her to me. She gasped as I drew waves on her naked waist. "Don't ever wear this again unless it's in my private gym."
" I can wear whatever I want your Highness!", She snapped.
My eyes glowed golden. The shifter was awake and ready to mate. Somedays belonging to all three families felt like having a split personality disorder.
Being a heart, mind and spirit royal meant all the three family attributes bound me. Royal shifters had more intense amorous frenzies. Having her here wasn't helping the insistent roar inside me to claim her.
My claws tore her Guard gym top. She gasped as they retracted allowing my fingers tease her skin. A low current sent her arching into my touch.
Eric... why do you make this so hard? She thought.
"Let's not talk about hard...", I breathed against her skin. Pretending not to hear her thoughts I kissed her throat. She gasped.
"I didn't come to you... let me go!" My red haired beauty moaned.
"Very unconvincing ", I drawled.
Struggling to get a grip, I carried her off my bed. Afterall self-control was my super power. I got her a gym top. Her thoughts were staggering.
"Whose is it? How does he know my size? I'm so horny I might forget everything that happened...how the sting from the whips felt...oh no, my shields..."
" Reyna?" If she was whipped and healed I would burn whoever laid hands on her or watched her bleed.
Commander Zane must be wondering why we left." She whispered.
"He gave us an hour to return and explain ourselves."
Green eyes widened as she started pacing. She bit her lips.
What will we say? She murmured as l stared blatantly.
She explained her plan to fool one of the most astute commanders of all time and at that a Spirit Royal from the oldest squad in the Guard, the King's Guard. My lips curved as she ruffled her hair. It now looked like I had ravished her...
An hour later, Zane sat quietly in his spacious office calmly hearing her version of events. She explained,
"It was that time of the month and my partner agreed to help me. I'm so sorry that my cycle turned unpredictable..."
Commander Zane watched her carefully, his fingers on his temple and jaw. His gaze snapped to mine.
"Is this the story you are going with?"
"Apologies Zane. We didn't mean to leave in such a manner."
Zane quietly walked to his desk. He poured himself a drink then smiled,
"Zeya will be returning soon Reyna. I'm sure she will be too excited to see you both. Her work in Ureya is done."
Reyna's thoughts murmured, "oh no, he knows, Zeya can read bonds..."
"Her skills will be useful here. It's good news. Is there something else you would like to address Commander?" I drawled. He ignored me and turned to Reyna who was biting her lip.
"Reyna, are you aware that I am an Alpha shifter? With several forms available to me making my sense of smell extremely superior to most royal shifters?"
"I had no idea Commander." She whispered.
"Your partner is also an Alpha shifter regardless of the fact that he belongs to the Heart and Mind families. Do you get where I am going with this?"
She was already sweating but her mind worked fast.
"My mother is a supreme healer who has created remedies unknown to most healers. She gave me a mist that masks my scent in such times. I am offended..."
"Don't... please...", I telepathed her...
Zane grinned. "Please do tell me what offends you?"
My mate checked her words and murmured, "I mean no disrespect. I just realized you both had no way of confirming my predicament. "
Zane's deep voice drawled, "Shifters can sense each others emotions. Not intrusively, I should add but our bond makes it hard for one to hide their emotional state especially in intense moments. It's the shifter squad's greatest weapon."
I almost grinned knowing she was being slowly cornered to speak the truth. Brave little thing she was taking on Zane. If only she would acknowledge our bond... She was so afraid to acknowledge us that she was willing to be expelled from the Guard.
"I would hate to expell you both from the Guard for lying to the Leader of the King's Guard." He stood right in front of us in a flash eyes glowing golden and said,
"Speak the truth or leave..."
"She's not ready to acknowledge the bond. I want her to do it without feeling forced..." I spoke to his mind.
"I am sorry Commander. Keeping something as important as a mate bond from you is unacceptable. I requested Eric to keep it a secret for now but it was foolish of me to make such a request."
"Partners and mates? This has not happened before. At least not in recent history. You will both be exempted from Guard missions but are expected to be available for training daily. Do not lie to me again. You could have compromised a mission or even the Guard with such recklessness. "
"I would like to give you a minimum of a week to decide how you intend to proceed." His gaze was on Reyna who seemed lost in her own mind.
"What's the Royal Guard way with such occurrencies?", My mate asked him.
"Mates before partners. You do what's right for your mate even if it's not right for you. You learn to revere them and protect them. A mate takes top priority in our laws."
"Had no idea you were this romantic Commander. Deanne is a very lucky female." Teasing him was one of my privileges.
"She is isn't she. Speaking of mates, I will be going to meet mine." Only a green shimmer remained in his spot. Reyna stood beside the window looking out to the arena.
"Eric I...I..., she murmured. I'm sorry about all this."
I closed the distance between us and held her chin. Her green eyes were full of quiet pain and anguish. She held my gaze as I drawled, "Mates before partners Reyna. You're my everything . Accept our bond Dimples."